Kapawa Vol. 5 Issue 3 (December 2020–February 2021)

KAPAWA

THE OFFICIAL ENGLISH STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. LA SALLE – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

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Leaping beyond educational borders

SAC responds to students’ online adversities with “Project Signed-In!” Anna Sophia C. Galzote and Lou Marcial M. Cuesta A chasm of inaccessibility had caused problems to the marginalized learners, even with the promises of the “shiftED: School-Home Integration for Flexible and Tech-enhanced Education” program as Liceo-De La Salle tread the foreign territories of e-learning.

Striving amidst the difficulties harbored by the pandemic, 18-year-old scholar Andy Boy Dejella from the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) strand was one of the learners who faced troubles during the educational shift.

“Learning is very hard, especially [when] education was pushed by the pandemic into distant online learning. [….] At some point, I just see myself passing requirements in fear of low grades rather than

learning from the lesson,” Dejella voiced out.

He is the third child in a family of 13 which is unideal in this health crisis as his older brother stopped schooling and applied for work after their father lost his job.

Dejella’s personal and academic struggles built a rift between him and his education as he noted that problems surfaced in navigating connectivity issues and group works, pushing him toward independence.

But in indifferences, the Student Activities Council (SAC) built bridges to address the concerns of the burdened students through an initiative with an Internet Allowance Grant as a concrete aid—Project Signed-In!.

“Project Signed-In is a big help for me. [It] will give a

great impact on my schooling here in La Salle [since I would] no longer worry [about] my expenses on data subscriptions,” Dejella expressed, proving the project’s amplification of the institution’s value of Communion in Mission.

The said program has been implemented ever since the start of the academic year with the monthly internet allowances beginning in February; as of now, seven beneficiaries have been funded.

“Project Signed-In! allowed us to live out our Lasallian prayer, which is to start the change we all want to see, and be united with the entire Lasallian community in being the spark, in faith, service, and communion,” SAC Executive Treasurer Catherine Seminio stated.

illustration by Mary Andrea S. Geolingo; photo reference from Andy Boy Dejella

photos taken from SAC; edited by Hannah Nicole R. Esblaca

Angeli M. Geroso and Nicole Kaye E. Lipa

Liceo upholds discipline in new setup

Enriching the students’ well-being in the middle of the pandemic through a series of webinars, the Liceo Discipline and Formation Office (DFO) initiated Discipline Awareness Week 2020, themed “Connected: Conscience Formation and Netiquette in Times of Online Education” last Dec. 1–4.

STEM student nails essay writing competition

REMINISCENT. The premiere of “Alaala: Reminiscing the Essence of Christmas through the Years” via the Student Activities Council’s (SAC) off icial Facebook page.

Lasallian Christmas spirit remains steadfast online Sam Hervey T. Sabordo

Not even a pandemic can beat the Christmas spirit of the Liceo community as the festivities hosted by the Student Activities Council (SAC) continued via their official Facebook page.

Beginning the celebration, SAC held Liceo’s first-ever “Christmas Station ID 2020: Musical Composition” contest, wherein the Blue Hydras prevailed among the

other houses with their song entitled “Diwa ng Pasko” last Dec. 13.

“We wanted to show everyone that despite the pandemic, there is still hope and we have so much time to give to the ones we love,” stated Ika Sagario, House of Rouen’s coordinator.

According to Sagario, the overall theme of the winning piece

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Give It A Shot page 2

was love persevering in the face of the pandemic that forced joy out of the people; thus, several frontliners and family footages were used in their music video.

Moreover, the House of Paris secured 2nd place with “Sentimental Season: A Season Full of Colors”, while Parmenie’s “Patuloy ang Pasko” and Rheims’ “Ngayong Pasko” compositions led them to 3rd

FEATURE In Every Ending, Comes Great Beginnings page 5

and 4th places, respectively.

Following the Christmas Station ID, SAC also presented “Alaala: Reminiscing the Essence of Christmas through the Years”, a virtual Christmas show where several students participated and showcased their talents last Dec. 23.

“The main vision of the Christmas show is to inspire the Liceo community to reminisce the essence of Christmas even during this time of pandemic, to send the message of joy and hope, and to strengthen the Lasallian Christmas spirit throughout the student body in the simplest ways possible,” stated SAC Executive President John Kemuel Semillano.

Withstanding the wits of her opponents, Edselle Marie Lanario from STEM 12-C prevailed in the “In Capitalism’s Cell: INKapetalismo” essay writing competition organized by the Commission on Environment, Department of Advocacies on Feb. 14.

ABM conducts first-ever strand festival

Anchored on the specializations of their strand, the Accountancy, Business and Management (ABM) Council launched “Sapere: ABM Festival 2021”, a three-day festival of ABM clusters on Feb. 12–14.

La Salle perpetuates annual Halad kay Maria

To honor the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, the Lasallian body and its community partners convened in the annual Halad kay Maria and Institutional Mass officiated by Fr. Jerryvel Celestial last Dec. 8 at the St. La Salle Coliseum.

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2 editorial

KAPAWA

give it a shot

The fear of needles is a common phobia, but what if you have to worry about what is in it, too?

A recent OCTA Research survey revealed that 46 percent of Filipino adults refuse to take a safe and effective coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine—despite the nine thousand total deaths by the time 2020 came to a close.

This hesitance to take the shot can perhaps be attributed to the Dengvaxia controversy, when hundreds of inoculated children died from hemorrhagic dengue. Its manufacturer later claimed that previously uninfected individuals are put at a greater risk when vaccinated, but the damage was done.

With this disaster still fresh in Filipino minds, it’s no surprise that the attitude toward another vaccine is skeptical, but public health is the foremost concern. Now, with the lax quarantine rules enforced nationally, cases are expected—and have begun—to rise. Those numbers can be cut significantly should the population be inoculated in an effective manner, but what about those who physically can’t take the vaccine?

Whether the reason be age or medical issues, these people will be left vulnerable to the disease—but only if there is no herd immunity. By vaccinating the eligible, a blanket is created that protects the ones at risk by putting them out of reach. No spread, no infections.

It’s been over a year since the lockdowns, and the only real change is the people’s attitude toward the virus—underestimation.

The virus is still real, and vaccines work; this has happened with numerous other infectious diseases. There will always be a risk of untoward health complications—the success rate is never 100 percent. Of course, viruses eventually go away without treatment, but not before wiping out a large chunk of the population. In the age of our current technology, that is a taxing—and easily preventable—sacrifice.

Words are Not Skin-deep ...their past is not andwill never be somethingwe share—the N-word will never be ours tosay.

Words are timeless and often go beyond history—but they may also be the very reminder of a bad one.

The derogatory racial slur, known as the “N-word”, carries a lot more weight than you may think.

It represents a time of slavery, abuse, and violence wrongfully targeted at Black people.

It was constantly thrown at them like animals who didn’t deserve a taste of humanity—as if inferior to everyone else. Unfortunately, the poison in that word still lingers up to the present.

No matter how much we carry our Filipino pride, there has always been a big flaw in the way we are raised: ignorance. Like many other countries, we grew to enjoy Black culture. We would listen to their songs, dance to their genres, and watch films that represent their struggles.

But even when millions of us embrace these cultural products, only a few seem to truly reach out and understand what lies beneath the surface.

Despite the similarities, like having the same skin color or living through

similar struggles as people of color, their past is not and will never be something we share—just like the N-word will never be ours to say.

This is their slur to reclaim, their pain to tolerate, and their history to rewrite; only they can say it. So when the opportunity arrives, hold your tongue and anyone else’s who even dare to say it.

Through this simple act, you are giving more than silence. You are acknowledging years of oppression while still giving basic human decency to a community that deserves

nothing else but respect.

After all, who are we to try and take back something that was never even ours in the first place?

We are Still in Crisis

When lockdowns and quarantines alleviated in selected cities within the country, a number of people were flocking inside snack houses and shops, travelling to different provinces, and crowding public places—with no proper social distancing.

Without the facemasks and face shields, it just seemed like there was no pandemic at all.

In case one forgets, the country is still in the middle of a crisis—one that depleted strength and eventually killed lives.

It is true that after almost a year of restricted freedom, people finally had

their chance to go outside by still following precautions.

Even in the midst of a health crisis, they can now continue what they did pre -pandemic; this is where the new normal kicks in. And to describe, they are like birds being released after such a long time of not taking wing.

However, along with the most awaited flights come turbulences—such that after a great return, people began to become complacent and ignorant of the virus’s existence; thus, drawing their city back to where it once started—quarantines.

That is why, no matter how thrilled we are to finally

Up to this day, the world is still facing a trail of uncertainty. What lies ahead narrows down with either of the two endings: recreation or destruction. photos taken from Esquire and Pinoy Abrod

step outside our homes, always check if we are equipped with virus-repellant necessities and that we are applying protective measures.

Let us remind ourselves that, up to this day, the world is still facing a trail of uncertainty.

What lies ahead narrows down with either of the two endings: recreation or destruction.

May the Filipinos not forget how our country succumbed to the virus’s wrath in the early days— and that is by standing too close and missing the bigger picture.

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KAPAWA

When Enough is Not Enough Whether we admit it or not, social status plays an important part in our lives. Our association with a stereotypical identity is harshly scrutinized―by the person’s occupation.

Most people feel a sensation welling up in their hearts whenever they see street cleaners, construction workers, and other manual laborers wipe their foreheads of sweat and later interpret that sensation as pity.

Pity because we realize that, at the end of the day of getting soaked under the sun’s wrath or the rain’s unforgiving p i t t e r- p a t t e r on their heads, the money they make will only be enough to suffice for a whole day’s worth of neccessities.

The minimum wage in the Philippines as of 2021 is 537 PHP per day—which also lets the worker earn an estimated total of 3,222 PHP per week, assuming that they are to work for six days out of seven.

And we think to ourselves how they got there. We start with the basic unit of society―

otherwise known as the family.

The main goal is to provide a child with their rights; one of them being given access to education.

Some barely get to enjoy that inclusive right.

No matter how numerous the public schools are in the Philippines, there will always be situations wherein a child will be exempted from the rule. Not because of the struggles one faces, but the opportunities someone lets go of with a

cycle continues.

Sacrifices must be made to recuperate the damage that the world chose to bestow on them, to be at par with those that have had a head start.

H o w e v e r, this should not be the case.

Minimum wage workers should be given a chance to break the curse and let their descendants live a life without a financial crisis situation.

Workers who do not have the privilege to sit on office chairs and enjoy the low thermostat of the air conditioning unit deserve more than the bare minimum in which they are accustomed to.

More appreciation, and most importantly more income.

Sacrifices must be made to recuperate the damage that the world chose tobestowon themandbe at par with those that have hada headstart. heavy heart; a sacrifice to cope up with how expensive the world we live in is.

However, not everyone has the same motivation and willpower to pursue their dreams through the process of education. Others have it harder—having to start from scratch without the privileges that most people have due to a diploma they failed to get, and the generational

Blurred Lines

A celebrity framed against her massive painting of greeneries and a custom rug at her feet may lead you to think, that ’ s ri ch per son acti vi t y, and move on.

But when the backdrop of this—admittedly expensive —assembly is a reallife impoverished community, eyebrows are meant to raise.

Such was the content of the photo that actress Solenn Huessaff caught flack for to promote her upcoming art exhibit.

People were quick to throw the word, “poverty porn”, the exploitation of the poor’s conditions to gain recognition.

A person making subjects out of marginalized communities for morality points is blatantly bad, as it exposes

their vulnerability and uses it for consumption.

However, no one knows the naked truth.

And even if they do, things aren’t simply black and white.

It may mean a dozen of things. It could be, in itself, satire for the so called “poverty porn” or how people put on a facade of luxury despite being poor.

Displaying it against a real setting may be meant to heighten audience reaction. As they say, art is meant to disturb.

Without context from the creator, there’s no knowing what it meant through the artist’s lens.

Besides, who knows if she

was given permission to capture them or if the “prof it” she’ll be receiving from “exploitation” is meant to be given back to these communities?

It is entirely acceptable to criticize the implications art may entail, but bandwagons of unwarranted hate disregarding nuance should be put in check.

Whether a certain work is truly exploiting or artistic is always based on the true intentions of the creator—the complex, impregnable mind of another human that is not ours.

We can only speculate until given evidence.

opinion 3

The Debate on Being the Bait Loving one’s nationality is a Filipino trademark. And while we call it “Pinoy Pride”, content creators call it gold rush.

The current YouTube algorithm would tell you that just by combining big, bold titles that involve the words “Philippines”, “craziest”, or “shocking” alongside exaggerated facial expressions would mean the video has secured a thousand more views, likes, and shares. This unfortunate trend goes by the name of pinoybaiting. It’s a booming strategy for YouTubers, often foreigners, wherein they suffice our supposed thirst for global validation by making it seem they are astounded by our culture—tokenism, if you will.

Such acts can be found in reaction videos toward our pool of talents, food chains, and local media. These videos would be a long hyperbole of them faking their interest. And we, the viewers—as much as we do watch them, all for the name of patriotism—are mere fishes trapped in the hook.

In hindsight, one sees this as a fresh marketing ploy but dig a little deeper and we see the stains of the past. Pinoybaiting further proves that the fingerprints of colonialism have never left, it has only evolved. The global arena continues to exploit our Filipino identity in the guise of false ally ship.

“Pinoybaiting” further proves that the fingerprints of colonialismhave never left, it has only evolved.

Believe it or not, I, too, am a simple victim of this trend. Who wouldn’t love to see their beloved Buzzfeed stars eat Jollibee and enjoy it?

It fumes out a tinge of comfort in the thought that our culture, which has been constantly degraded across history, be finally appreciated.

However, in the end, a smart Filipino viewer would need to muster the courage to love our identity without the claps from another party.

illustration by Rizle M. Patopatin

No one knows the naked truth. And even if they do, things aren’ t simply black and white.

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4 science and technology

KAPAWA

Obsolute-ly

illustration by Eli T. Gozon

Jewel Irish S. Belascuain Mankind enjoys the luxury of high-tech and latest gadgets. Devices of today are so advanced and systematical that the workload for some became tolerable. Without technology, such is doomed to do tasks that are considered hard yet necessary from start to finish—manually.

However, ponder with this question: What if men decided to not progress— to not evolve—at all? Then, one would say they may never find the change that led them to where they

are today. Some would quote that men would rather still succumb into darkness under heavy rocks or lie amidst the wilderness.

The others would choose to not enter the discussion because they maybe have no idea to begin with. Whatever the answer to that question, it all narrows down that life would never be the same.

As people advance, so did science and technology.

However, come to think of it, with every welcome comes a goodbye. Meaning,

one must let go of his old companions before embracing the new—that is how people transition to the modern era. If one can still remember or have owned floppy disks, beepers, “dumb” phones, well, you must have experienced a blast from the past!

Obsolete products, as defined by Christopher McFadden, can include anything that has become redundant in light of a newer alternative being developed.

When technologies or practices are no longer

Good Read-dance Justin Andrei D. Tanilon With the constant development and innovation through technology, many believe that the world—a few years to many decades from now—could be engulfed in everything digital. However, that is not the case with books.

Mankind has long been lovers of knowledge, as seen throughout history with countless writers transcrib-

ing their thoughts through books. In the 21st century, the development of eBooks has definitely affected the way people acquired information.

But contrary to what people may believe in, books— physical copies—still rise to the top over their digital counterparts.

Data from the 2019 Association of American Publishers’ report showed that a huge margin in sales, in favor of printed books, proved

illustration by Chelsea Anne A. Rallos

that it still makes more money in the market. Of course, it is worth noting that digital media is a much more convenient manner in which people can access information from. Another thing to add is that it has also affected many industries, resulting to their depleting number in sales and popularity.

With all these statistical data presented, book lovers from all around the globe have proven that physical copies still are relevant despite the masses’ continuous pursuit for making everything digital.

So fret not! Mankind may see robotic workers, such as digital cashiers and electrically-powered cooks, and bid their good-byes to physical objects, but books are to remain as they are. After all, nothing beats the smell of paper and ink.

used—even if they are in working condition—we deem them obsolete.

However, just because they have become obsolete, doesn’t necessarily mean they are not still in use. In fact, many older technologies are still perfectly serviceable today.

A blast from the past would be ones that your grandparents have owned— floppy disks, typewriters, gramophones, pagers or beepers, “dumb phones”, cathode ray tubes (CT R), fax machines, and dot matrix printers.

Some of these names may not ring your bell.

Well, that would mean that you were not born when these instruments skyrocketed its purpose to the world.

These “obsolete” tools were also once beneficial inventions.

The modern generation might not relate to what the children of the early ‘90s have possessed; however, it is considered good to look back at what we have before because only by then can we arrive to where we stand now.

E nemy

Saying Goodbye to an

Zerjemae C. Zaragoza

To defeat your enemy, one must first know who he is.

Within the human body, where cells are engaged in a constant battle against outside forces seeking to destroy from the inside, this phrase is more than just a wise man’s lamentations—it’s a battle strategy.

The white blood cells standing guard against the borders do more than just repel the incoming virus; they also observe, memorize, and adapt. In the appearance of a new threat, they commit to memory the method of entry, the force behind the attack as well as the faces of the invaders. So that the next time they knock on the gates, the white blood cells are more than prepared to drive them away.

Equipped with different arsenals, white blood cells are prepared to fight against anything that comes with ill intent. Typically, they make up the population of these defenders, with macrophages that swallow germs for breakfast, Blymphocytes that pick on the remains of the enemy, and T-lymphocytes that attack the

spies within.

Once the white blood cells have gotten a clear grasp on their opponent’s powers and patterns, defeating them will be as easy as breathing. However, it’s true that some enemies are tougher than others.

And at times like these, the human body enlists some outside help in the form of vaccines.

The vaccine introduces weakened strains of the virus, and the white blood cells immediately seize them for questioning, forcing them to spill their battle tactics and weaknesses. By then, the body has already set its traps —long before the invaders dared to trespass.

With the introduction of the vaccine for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), our enemy’s strategies are as clear as daylight and water. Now, it’s more than simple to see through what cards they have hidden up in their sleeve.

And perhaps, the war against this formidable enemy has a great chance of finally coming to an end—with life as the victor and humanity safe.

illustration by Stephanie Louise L. Gregas

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KAPAWA

feature

5

an album review

P uni sher Anastasia R. Alcantara

Trying to solve a jigsaw puzzle with all the wrong pieces, escaping the planet in a spaceship with no oxygen, and screaming for help in a language nobody understands— that’s what it’s like listening to Phoebe Bridgers’ Punisher.

The critically-acclaimed singer-songwriter debuted in 2017 with the album Stranger in the Alps, quickly gaining recognition in the indie-folk scene. One listen to that album and you’re likely to experience a rollercoaster of emotional motion sickness, leaving you thinking about relationships that went wrong and cries for help you ignored.

Punisher, on the other hand, could be likened to a tour inside Bridgers’ mind itself. The album consists of things one would usually think of in the dark: an impending apocalypse,

a rough childhood, and an idol you’ll never meet.

Phoebe’s discography shows that smashing a guitar isn’t the only reason why she has such a loyal fanbase.

Her music speaks about mundane things in such a poetic way—putting even the most trivial of feelings into words. It almost feels as if every song she ever wrote was for lonely nights in your room, the only company being her music and your earphones.

Punisher is an album tackling the passage of life and the thoughts that come with it.

Encompassed in the slow strums of a banjo and an eerie baseline, it’s the simplicity of each song that makes it so impactful.

illustration by Mary Andrea S. Geolingo

2020 Vision Francis Exequiel P. Ampil We hate to see you go but love to watch you leave—a common phrase you might’ve already heard.

Having left one year for a new one though, we probably identify more with its second half.

2020 was horrible— an unmistakable, omnipresent statement people are sick of hearing by now. But while we could leave last year in the dust, should we? 2020’s finally gone, but it’s left some baggage.

So, why don’t we unpack it and grieve what may be the most grievous year of our lives?

Flashback to January 2020, it was pretty good when you think about it. Parasite won! But that’s it. It’s as if that one glorious moment took all the year’s positivity to occur, leaving only wildfires, brutal injustice, and an actual pandemic.

As governments mandated to stay inside, busy not alleviating the problem, we fell into grief’s first stage: denial.

Questions asking: “Is this real?” were heard all around the world, to which we told them to “Shut up, we know!”

That segues us into the second stage: anger. We raged against the governmental machines that allowed this to happen, the corrupt systems killing people of color and lower classes under our noses even before the pandemic started.

But in the background, we tried Dalgona coffee, TikTok dances, and Chloe Ting exercises. To avoid going crazy in quarantine, we attempted amending ourselves with 2020’s mayhem and misfortunes. To not move on with our lives against it, but in unison instead—known as bargaining.

Then online class started, COVID cases rose, and —for Filipinos—we remain stuck with the same powers at the wheel of our country. Looking at the rest of the year was a downhill view—some call it a depression.

That leads us to acceptance. But have we really accepted 2020? Not as it could have been but as it is?

Everywhere you look, curses, wishes, and rebellions about that damned year—all in the name of claiming the madness waged against us. But maybe the best way to claim that madness— to accept it—is to leave it alone.

Because 2020’s not the one that got away we should’ve fought for, but the toxic ex-boyfriend we really need to get over. So, rest in what you couldn’t give us, 2020.

Peace.

photo taken from Pitchfork

In every ending, As students in the precipice of the two years, it seems the time has come to stomach an eventual proverb: All good things must come to an end.

Maybe you got what you wanted: met new friends, joined prestigious organizations, or found the one. On the offside, maybe everything went wrong and you’d just like to end it all with, “So long, you plebeians!” Whatever it may be, there’ll be a teeming force looming at the backdrop of our graduation:

What will life be like after Liceo-De La Salle?

What better way to know its details than checking in on one of its previous polymaths, John Edward Alejano? For the

comes great beginnings Rieden Denielle N. Cuadra uninitiated, he has exhibited his outstanding wit in many of the universities’ vocations. Be it debating, writing, or performing, Edward has struck gold in areas too many to count.

“My life after Liceo is the opposite of magic,” he exerted, “I’ve always known that senior high is not yet the entirety of the ‘everything’, but I didn’t expect it to be such a small part of a huge reality.”

Indeed, it is the opposite of wizardry, as what meets us at the end of the magic stick is science. Edward even notes that he has written a staggering 120 essays on his first semester at the University of the Philippines

Visayas. Much like the Mona Lisa in the Louvre, it seems as though the Liceo-De La Salle is one big portrait in a plethora of galleries.

“Doing your best is better than aiming to win,” he expressed, “I used to think that winning is the most important narrative in every battle, but now I realized that it is our growth that tells our story.”

There is a certain comfort that, in the crux of it all, what defines us isn’t success nor failure—but our progress.

“We can fight and win as many battles as we want,” he said, “but if we remain ‘that’ same person that we were when we started, we have not truly won anything.”

photo taken from John Edward Alejano

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prepared by Rieden Denielle N. Cuadra, Grace Kay L. Milan, Chelsea Anne A. Rallos, and Ana Dominique G. Manabat

8 feature

KAPAWA

Goodbye and

All of Its

Friends

Aleia Nichole M. Tayo

Put a finger down if you’ve ever lied about moving on.

Sitting in the front row with a digit folded are the veterans all too familiar with picking up after the ruin. Plopped down on the chairs two rows behind them are those in denial who kept their finger up. All the way at the back are the lost and confused caught in between, functioning like broken records that utter the same line repeatedly.

Regardless of where you sit, goodbye has struck you at least once in life. After all, parting is an indispensable cog in the human system. Yet, truth be told, it’s not the loss that hits the hardest—but the aftermath.

At some point, we’re all wandering bellboys carrying heavy luggage with both hands.

May it be the movie stub of a first date, a necklace passed down from long-gone family, or the last letter ever written by a friend, we all have ghosts under our beds. Most of us wrestle with a fickle tower of promises so easy to topple over. Some swallow the urge to look at a place when they drive past it, in fear of awakening the feelings asleep. Others remain stuck in a time loop of what once was—reality dwindling as they hit the replay button again and again.

Admit it or not, there are times when we keep the past in our pockets—locking them in walls made of sand. For a while, they’ll hold, but when the tide rises and the waves kiss the shore, the castle will crumble and everything will head back to square one. But forgetting is never a prerequisite to moving forward. Precarious is a soul poised to forget in order to live. Whether it’s a song, a letter, or a memory, give in to the pain that demands to be felt and hold on to whatever you have left.

Pride the hope in the future over the suffering in the past, and don’t leave your soul behind while your body marches forward. At the end of the day, the calm before the storm reminds us of what we have, and the chaos after unveils the pieces that no longer work.

So, here’s to the veterans, the in-denial, and the lost. In time, the weight you’re carrying will be replaced with epiphany. Whether you’re new to goodbyes or bear the Midas touch for it; unpack the bags, face the ghosts, and move forward.

After all, you’ll need both hands for the next level.

Where goodbye and all of its friends await.

photo taken from IMDb

illustration by Cassel Dave G. Tiva

Krisla Gail J. Batac

n an honest review ohing nis Crime Scene: the Vatel at the Cecil Ho Grace Kay L. Milan If you’ve watched the show to the end, congratulations, you too have been clickbaited.

Directed by Joe Berlinger, the crime-obsessed series illuminated the infamous disappearance of Elisa Lam with a substantive critique of Cecil’s notorious legacy. What pushed it to its downfall is the further dramatization of various conspiracy theories and traps straying away from the crime’s true nature.

However, that is not to say they dressed up someone else’s suffering as diverting entertainment.

Rather, this outdone cinematic production relished the different sinister possibilities that occurred throughout the investigation. It marketed off the fact that people love a good mystery, and centralized its series on the eerie lift video that bewitched the world when news first hit in 2013.

In fact, the first and second episodes were enthralling enough to keep viewers hooked on the oddity of her case. But, slowly along the way, the series

walked itself out of context and persevered into a grappling storyline of circumstantial evidence—only returning to the actuality in the latter half of its finale.

Much contrary to its build-up, the cold truth was: Elisa Lam’s death was a tragic accident.

No conspiracy. No cover-up. No murder.

Sometimes, it can be easy to get caught up with the salacious storytelling that we forget this incident is not something we can pour our crime passions into. Elisa Lam was a real person, with friends and family who genuinely loved and missed her. Her case was not diabolical nor was it criminally indictive.

She faced a mental health crisis, and it’s unfortunate the documentary believed it had to result in making historical detours and eccentric commentary—all in the name of making her case compelling.

Rest in peace, Elisa Lam.

When the universe takes back what it gave, it will rip out a part of you.

You can feel it when you cut ties with a person you still love so dearly, move away from the town you grew up in, or fail to achieve a goal you’ve been working so hard to accomplish.

But it’s not ideal to marinate in disappointment for a long time. Sooner or later, you’d want to move on—but as you know, it’s easier said than done.

1. Let your emotions free.

Heartbreaks are nothing but soul-wrecking. The regrets will loom over you as you lie in bed in the dead of the night; the “what ifs” will pile up like paperwork on your bedside table. Let them. Allow yourself to feel everything: the grief, pain, and yearning. Don’t push it at the back of your closet like dirty laundry you refuse to do because it’ll only prolong the inconvenience.

2. Accept it for what it is.

Sometimes, desire doesn’t match the probability. Fight as much as you want, but the results might not ease your ambition. Eventually, when you accept that things just don’t go the way you’d like them to, you’ll understand why fate let everything go wrong in the first place. What’s meant for you will come to you as a pleasant surprise, and what’s not will drift away silently without a fight—if you let it.

3. Take baby steps in the right direction.

You’ve poured time and effort into surviving the fallout of your emotions.

Aimlessly wandering around might lead you back to where you started—facing disappointment like it’s your first time. It’s hard to go from there, especially when you’re unsure of what’s next. Think of how you want your process of moving on to look like. Do you want to find yourself? Try something new? Come out of this as a better person? No matter what it is, your plan should always lead to your main goal—to move on.

In the end, how you cope with your heartache is up to you. Your journey to recovery is yours to take, but remember to tread along with love and care for yourself.

Somewhere down the line, the goodbyes won’t sting as much anymore.

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10 vox populi

KAPAWA

prepared by Hannah Nicole R. Esblaca, Liegh Jovim A. Entila, and Miles U. Guancia

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literary speech festival Celebration of Language 2020–2021 AandVirtual Literary Revolution Oration

musical medley

poetry interpretation

impromptu speaking

house of parmenie

photos taken from SAC; edited by Hannah Nicole R. Esblaca

house of rheims

house of paris

house of rouen

VICTORIOUS. The final titleholders in various competitions of the Literary-Speech Festival 2021: A Virtual Celebration of Language and Literary Revolution.

SAC reveals final titleholders of Literary-Speech Festival ‘21

As the Student Activities Council (SAC) wrapped off the “LiterarySpeech Festival 2021: A Virtual Celebration of Language and Literary Revolution” held on Feb. 2–5, the culmination of the weeklong festivity caused a stir in the Liceo community due to a miscalculation in the contest results.

Before the error was made known, SAC initially announced the

winners on Feb. 5 but eventually took the post down after the tally was reported to be inaccurate.

“There had been miscalculations with the results or scores, actually. This was due to some miscommunication on the organizers’ part so we had to take the results posters down in order to correct [this.

Rest assured that] the houses were informed and we had

Angeli M. Geroso definitely learned from such experience,” SAC Executive Vice President Juliana Stacy Caña admitted.

Since it was already long overdue, SAC did not post the updated results on their official Facebook page but provided the houses with the final list of titleholders, which revealed that the Phoenixes rose from the ashes

by prevailing in the Musical Medley competition.

In terms of the individual categories, Griffin Earl Razonable, Chimera Patricia Diaz, and Hydra Maria Angela Del Rosario bested their opponents as they swept the virtual stage of the Oration, Poetry Interpretation, and Impromptu Speaking contests, respectively.

Regardless of the issue

HUMSS’ Legacy Project continues despite restrictions Nicole Kaye E. Lipa

Upholding the Lasallian role in nation-building in the Philippine society, the graduating humanistas of Liceo-De La Salle, with the help of their partner organizations, instigated the “Legacy Project Year 2 Turnover” on Jan. 19 at the Choa Co Siu Hoo Lobby.

The event was an umbrella program comprising four initiatives made by the Grade 12 Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) classes A, B, C, and D as part of their Community Engagement, Solidarity, and Citizenship (CESC) course under Alvin Bryan Jamili, LPT.

“The initiative program [...] aims to mobilize students to experience the real scenario of school-based community life by immersing themselves and [raising] awareness of matters related to the needs of the community,” Jamili remarked.

To start with, HUMSS 12-A’s Project Kaangtanan accumulated a total of 20,724.00 PHP which was then used to purchase crops from the farmers of Don Salvador Benedicto and distribute a total of 50 food packs to the members of the Jose J. Gonzaga Village Tricycle Owners and Drivers Association ( JJ G V T O DA )

BENEVOLENT. Representatives from the Grade 12 Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) classes hand in their projects’ proceeds to the chosen beneficiaries through the “Legacy Project Year 2 Turnover” program at the Choa Co Siu Hoo Lobby. photo taken from Alvin Bryan Jamili

in Brgy. Mansilingan.

Subsequently, to support the modular classes of Abkasa Elementary School (AES), HUMSS 12-B carried out Project Barter, which granted the beneficiary with an EPSON 3-in-1 printer, 30 pieces of ink, and five boxes of paper from the initiative’s in-kind donations and 26,956.80 PHP monetary fund.

The Esperanza Project of HUMSS 12-C, on the other hand, financially underpinned select fruit vendors of the Libertad Public Market by giving 28,328.00 PHP to Project Humangon, a program by the Negrosanon Young Leaders Institute Inc.

surrounding the results, the Literary-Speech Festival paved the way for the Liceo houses to flaunt their language proficiency in the name of arts and literature.

“The Literary-Speech Festival is a celebration of arts and literature. [….] It provided a venue for young and talented individuals in Liceo to share and showcase their talents and skills in different fields,” Caña expressed.

Liceo pays tribute to Lasallian mentors

(NYLI), which aimed to help micro-entrepreneurs affected by the pandemic.

Furthermore, HUMSS 12D’s initiative, Project Bisan Piso Lang, collectively gathered 27,644.00 PHP as they solicited donations for as low as one peso to fulfill the needs of the victims of Typhoon Ulysses, as well as the elderlies of St. Mary’s Home for the Aged.

Lance Rafael M. Lazaro Despite the hurdles of the newly adopted remote learning, the Student Activities Council (SAC) pushed through with “Kabalaslan: Virtual Lasallian Teacher’s Day Celebration 2021”, a three-part initiative primed to acknowledge the efforts of Liceo educators on Jan. 26.

In line with this, the SAC officers led the preparations for the distribution of gratitude gifts, containing five kilos of rice each, to the faculty and staff through the La Salle Brothers and Employees Multipurpose Cooperative (LASBEMPCO) where standard safety protocols were observed.

“We want to make the teachers feel the gratitude we have for their kind actions in nurturing each individual in the Liceo community,” remarked John Kemuel Semillano, SAC’s executive president.

To inform the institution of the said event, SAC premiered a program via livestream on their official Facebook page where messages from key persons were delivered.

“Teaching is a ministry, not just a career. [….] As teachers, let us reflect on how we have served as good shepherds to our students,” reflected Br. Francisco “Sockie” de la Rosa VI, FSC. Furthermore, Liceo students also partook in sending virtual letters of appreciation via Google Forms, which were organized by SAC and sent to the teachers through their University of St. La Salle (USLS) emails.

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SPORTS PBB: Basketball Edition

photos taken from CNN Philippines, Advocates PH, Spin.PH, and ABS-CBN News

PBA adapts ‘Pinoy basketball bubble’ Yamana D. Montero After long months of agonizing restlessness, anticipation, and uncertainty—excitement filled every Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) fan as the

resumption of its games is now plotted on the calendar.

Anyone can remember how the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on the lives and spirits of people—the sports world

Filipino Olympian takes final bow Ben Joseph L. Maido

Just before Valentine’s day, Filipino Boxing Olympian Alexcel “Didat” Dargantes’ career has abruptly ended as the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) announced the untimely death of their athlete.

With Dargantes’ death, their friends and family are currently campaigning for “Pastil for Cause” to accumulate 97 PHP thousand to bring their body back to their hometown —General Santos City.

The Olympian’s close friend, 2019 World Champion

Nesthy Petencio, displayed grief to the death of her close friend and former teammate in an interview with ABS-CBN Sports.

Petencio comments on the death of her close friend, as she utters, “Sa bawat pagsuntok ko sa training kanina, sumasabay luha ko (With every punch dealt during training earlier, my tears fell in the same way).”

Moreover, ABAP President Ricky Vargas andPhilippine Sports Commission Executive Marc Velasco assured that they would also give financial assistance for their funeral arrangements.

included. Recreational activities that required contact were halted, fans and spectators were prohibited in tournaments, and several doors of opportunities for athletes were closed shut.

Unceasing thoughts regarding sports not being able to get back on its feet again were crowding minds, but sparks of hope glimmered as the PBA recently clapped back with an announcement of its apparently playable Season 46.

After thorough deliberation of its Board of Governors, April 9 of this year—the same day as the association’s foundation anniversary—is the tentative date of the season’s opening. Primarily, the plan relies on the availability of vaccines wherein the normal setting is eyed to push through,

William Khalid Vibar

photo taken from News18

backhand no wiggle room.

One final misfire from Nadal sent the ball smack bang in the net and sealed the coffin for the World Number 2.

“The thing is that I wasn’t really thinking of a lot of things,” Tsitsipas commented in an interview after the victory.

Nadal had previously withdrawn from the ATP Cup citing back injuries and admitted that his preparation was “not ideal”.

“I made a couple of mistakes [...] was not enough for me, and I have to go back home and practice to be better,” he commented.

Tsitsipas faced off Daniil Medevdev in the semis but failed to snatch his first grand slam finals.

trained for their games, they are still safe and secured from the dangers brought by the virus.

Furthermore, this could be easily compared to a certain reality show where housemates are evicted one by one from the infamous Bahay ni Kuya until the last housemate emerges as the winner. In the same way, also-ran teams in PBA Season 46 games would also exit the bubble until the champion team’s winning ways prevail over the others.

172 players. 12 teams.

One bubble. PBA’s good news is not only for basketball enthusiasts—as this seemingly small step is nothing less of a great leap for the world— making way for the resurgence of sports once more.

Down for the Count

Tsitsipas upsets Nadal in shocking 5-set comeback; secures spot in AO semis Fans are reeling after Stefanos Tsitsipas recovered a stunning 3–6, 2–6, 7–6(4), 6–4, 7–5 victory over Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open, two sets down.

Nadal showed strong form in the first two sets leading over Tsitsipas 6–3, 6–2, but yielded after a series of misfires in the third set tiebreak.

The Greek hammered it home with an aggressive baseline play, leaving Nadal’s trademark

and of course, the existence of training and tournament bubbles which the PBA spent millions for.

A good number of people might have already come across the word “bubble” that is associated with sports leagues, particularly during the pandemic.

However, only a few can comprehend how this certain concept single-handedly sustained facets of sports all over the world—and evidently, Philippine basketball is one of them.

Bubbles were established to build a sports dome from the outside world where athletes and their coaches are housed and permitted to resume their respective activities. The idea is that as the players are continuously geared up and heavily

When it seemed that all the planets aligned and the universe were eternally in their favor—Japan’s ambitions of hosting the most memorable Olympic Games were crushed by the bane of the new decade.

The 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics is the fourth occasion in which Japan is chosen to host the Olympic Games. Being the successor to the 1998 Nagano Olympics, it was delayed for a very significant period of time.

It was prospected to be one of the top three most expensive Olympic Games to date, with

a budget of more than 26 billion dollars, which apparently sinked down the drain. With this, the Japanese Olympic committee has decided that the time has finally arrived and are planning to commence the start of the games in late June or early August this year.

Due to this seemingly brash decision by the committee, the public, the sponsors, and even the athletes themselves have raised points of skepticism regarding the controversial issue. Now remember, they absolutely have the right to do so, especially since the

SPORTS OPINION

virus has taken more than 2 million lives globally— yet this does not also negate the decision made by the committee. If a chance arises that the Olympic committee finds a way of making sure that the athletes, staff, and audiences are properly accounted, there virtually seems to be no problem with following through with the plans.

Times have been rough for everyone, the Olympics has become a beacon of this, yet it does not mean the end for the King of Sports Competitions and of course, the rest of the Sports Industry.

Times havebeenroughfor everyone, theOlympics has becomeabeaconof this.

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